Sheet ceiling material elevator



April 21, 1959 Filed Aug. 29, 1955 F. J. MORRIS 2,883,073 SHEET CEILINGMATERIAL ELEVATOR 5 Sfleets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

FRANK J MORRIS A roelvzv April 21, 1959 F. J. MORRIS 2,833,073

SHEET CEILING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. FRANK J. MORRIS ATTORNEY Apri 21, 19 I F. J.- MORRIS 2,883,073

SHEET CEILING MATERIAL-ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. FRANK J. MORRIS A TI'OE/VE Y April 21, 1959 I F. J. MORRIS2,883,073

' SHE-ET CEILING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 29, 1955 5 Shets-Sheet 4IN V EN TOR.

FRANK J. MORRIS April 1959 F. J. MORRIS 2,883,073

SHEET CEILING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 29, 1955 5 Sh'eetsSheet 5 INV EN T 0R.

FRANK J MORRIS BY I W A7702: Y.

United States Patent SHEET CEILING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Frank J. Morris,Stockton, Calif.

Application August 29, 1955, Serial No. 531,207

7 Claims. (Cl. 214-4) This invention relates to material handling, andmore particularly to apparatus for handling rigid sheet material of thetype commonly employed in the construction of dwellings and commercialbuildings. Examples of such rigid sheet material are plaster board,sheet lath or the so-called button board and plywood. Such materials arecommonly included within the purview of the name wallboard, and it willbe understood that whenever this identifying title is employed withinthe following description and claims, the name is employed in itsgeneric sense, and without limitation as to the type of paneling, or asto the location where it is to be installed, i.e., not necessarily as awall panel.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor handling wallboard.

Another object is to provide a piece of equipment for use in raising asheet of wallboard into position for securing to the undersides ofceiling rafters and for firmly holding the sheet thus positioned whilethe same is nailed or otherwise secured to the rafters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a piece of constructionequipment of the character indicated which includes a carriage adaptedto receive a full, standard-sized sheet of wallboard while the carriageis in a conveniently accessible lowered position, and adapted to beraised with the wallboard thereon into position adjacent the rafters.

Another object is to provide a wallboard elevating device as described,wherein the carriage is adapted to receive the wallboard in a positiondisplaced only slightly from the vertical, the carriage being adapted tobe swung from the said nearly vertical position to the horizontal as onephase of the operation of elevating the wallboard into position forinstallation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide wallboard-handlingequipment as described, that is easily portable and so small in overalldimensions as to permit movement from room to room through a standardsized single doorway, and yet which is readily extensible to adapt theequipment to even exceptionally high ceilings.

Another object is to make the apparatus adjustable to accommodatewallboard panels of various sizes.

A further object is to provide means for securely immobilizing theapparatus in operating position substantially instantaneously andwithout requiring any tools nor any fastening devices such as nails orscrews.

Another object is to provide a novel latching arrangeis to be understoodthat variation may be made in the said drawings and description withoutdeparting from 2 the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a wallboard elevating and positioningdevice incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the manually operable pole constituting anaccessory of the device of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation partly broken away, showing the device ofFig. 1 erected in operative position, ready to receive a sheet ofwallboard.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the device after havingreceived a sheet of wallboard and in readiness to raise the same forceiling installation.

Figure 5 is another view similar to Fig. 3, showing the device at thecompletion of the first phase of the elevating operation.

Figure 6 is another view similar to Fig. 3, showing the device at thecompletion of the final phase of the elevating operation, with thewallboard properly positioned for ceiling installation.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view in elevation, taken on the lines 7-7of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail elevational view of one vof thegravity-actuated latches for releasably retaining the carriage inelevated position.

Figure 9 is a perspective of a modified form of wallboard elevating andpositioning device incorporating the principles of the presentinvention.

Figure 10 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of thewinch constituting a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 9.

That embodiment of the wallboard elevating and positioning device of thepresent invention, which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive,comprises a frame 11 adapted to be rigidly but removably mounted in avertical or nearly vertical position extending between a supportingfloor structure 12 (Figs. 36) and an overhead structure to the underface of which wallboard such as conventional sheets or panels 17 ofplaster board (Figs. 4-6) are to be secured in the construction of anoverhead ceiling. Typically, therefore, the overhead structure to whoseunder surface the panels are to be applied with the aid of the apparatusof the invention may be conventional horizontal framing, such as spaced,parallel rafters 14 although it may likewise be in the nature of acontinuous surface, such as a complete ceiling, for example, to whichplywood panels or wallboard of other characteristics is to be applied asa part of a remodeling operation. A carriage 16 adapted to receive asingle, full size, commercial type sheet of wallboard 17, is mounted onthe frame 11 for vertical sliding movement with respect thereto, betweena lower loading position (Figs. 3 and 4) to an upper, intermediateposition (Fig. 5), from which latter position the carriage is adapted tobe swung upward in pivotal motion about an axis adjacent one edge of thesheet 17 to a substantially horizontal, discharging position (Fig. 6)wherein the sheet 17 is supported in such close adjacency to the desiredfinal position it is to occupy in the completed ceiling construction,that nailing or otherwise permanently fastening the sheet 17 therein canbe performed quickly and easily.

Returning now to the supporting and guiding frame 11 for a more specificdescription thereof, the principal constituent elements of the frame 11comprises two legs 21, 21a, adapted to be rigidly retained parallel toeach other and in predetermined spacing, by upper and lower bracingmembers 22, 22a, respectively. Each leg 21, 21a includes a lower portionin the form of a tube 23 and an upper portion in the form of a rod 24which may be of solid or tubular form, as may be determined bymanufacturing cost consideration, although the tubular form may bepreferable since the relative weight economy without material sacrificein strength which characterizes the tubular form maybe the determiningfactorin this connection. Each rod 24 is telescopically received within,and extends upward from, the upper end of the associated tube 23, withrespect to which therod 24 is slidable, thus making the leg 21, 21a,longitudinally adjustable to adapt the frame 11 for use in connectionwith ceiling construction of various lheights. Each leg 21, 21a isprovided with a set screw 26, preferably of the butterfly head variety,threaded through the tube 23 adjacent the upper end thereof, and adaptedto be tightened against the associated rod 24 to releas'ably lock theleg in selected position of extension. A flange 27 rigidly aflixed tothe upper end of each rod 24 provides a horizontal upper surface adaptedto be pressed against the under surface of a rafter 14 or other form ofstructure to which wallboard panels 17 are to be secured.

Means 31 are provided for continuously applying upward pressure to eachleg 21 to press the associated flange 27 into rigid engagement with arafter 14 or the like, to retain the frame 11 rigidly in erect,operating position. Each of these pressure applying means 31 comprisesa. sleeve 32 (Fig. 7) rigidly secured, as by welding 33 to the lower endof the associated tube 23 and having a bushing 34 rigid with its lowerend. A plunger 36 whose stem '37 extends slidably through the bushing 34is continuously urged downward by a spring 38 under compression betweenthe lower end of the bushing 34 and a foot flange 41 comprising thelowermost portion of the plunger 36. A flange 39 defining the upper endof the plunger 36 isreciprocable within the sleeve 32, limits extensionof the spring 38 by engagement with the inner end of the bushing 34. Anut 42 rigidly secured by welding 43 to the upper face of the footflange 41 provides means" for easily attaching one end of a pull rod 44to the plunger 36. A jamb nut 46 locks the rod 44 against a'ccid'entaldisplacement. The upper end of the rod 44 is pivotally attached to asubstantially horizontal lever 47 which extends loosely through aU-shaped bracket 48 whose legs 49 and 49a are welded to a side of theassociated tube 23. The lever 47 is pivotally su ported from the tube 23by resting upon the lower leg 49a of the bracket 48. Although notpositively conneeded to the tube 23 by a conventional pivot pin, thelever 47 is restrained against displacement from an advantageousleyering position upon the bracket leg 49a by a suitable pin 51 rigidwith the lever and held against a lateral edge of the bracket 48 by thecomparative rigidity of the pull rod 44. A plate 52 is welded to thelever 47 in position to'provide a pedal that may convenien-tly bedepressed by foot pressure, to exert an upward pull upon the rod 44 towithdraw the plunger 36 against the urgency of the spring 38 and therebytemporarily decrease the efiective length of the associated leg21 or2111, as the case might be.

The bracing members- 22 and 22a also are longitudinally extensible, eachcomprising a tube 61 pivoted to the tube '23 df one of the legs 21 and arod 62 telescopically slidable within and extending from the distal endof the tube 61. The means for thus pivotally mounting the tube 61includes a flange 56 welded to the leg 21 and a pivot pin 57interconnecting the flange 56 and a flattened portion at the proximalend of the tube 61. An angle brace 63 extends diagonally across each oftwo opposite corners of the rectangular frame 11,, each brace 63including two flanges 64 welded to a horizontal and a vertical firarnemember, respectively, and a rod 66 'det'achably secured to the flanges64 by removable pins 67. Since the two braces 63 are diagonallyopposite, the tube portion 61 of the upper horizontal bracing member 22is pivoted to the leg 21 and the associated rod 62 is similarlyconnected to the other leg 21a, while the arrangement of the lowerhorizontal bracing member 22a is just the opposite, i.e., the tube 61 ofthe lower horizontal bracing member 22a is pivoted to the leg 21a andits associated rod 62 is pivoted to the leg 21.

Since both of the horizontal bracing members 22, 22a, are longitudinallyextensible, the apparatus is readily adjustable to vary the lengththereof, i.e., to alter the distance between the legs 21, 21a, andthereby to dispsoe the two flanges 27 at any selected spacing within thepractical limits of the device. In this manner, the apparatus of theinvention is adapted for use in a room whose ceiling is defined only byexposed rafters. The described longitudinal extensibility of theapparatus of the invention permits the flanges 27 at the top of theframe legs 21 to be engaged with two spaced rafters, even though thecenter-to-center spacing of the latter may not conform to conventionalor standard practice. Each of the horizontal bracing members 22, 22a isprovided with a set screw 68 threaded through the tube 61 and adapted tobe tightened against the associated rod 62 to releasably lock the member22, 22a in selected positionof adjustment.

The carriage 16 already mentioned hereinabove, is constructcd similarlyto the frame '11, in that its principal constituent members are likewiseextensible, being constructed of telescopically associated rods andtubes. The end members 71,, 71a of the carriage 16 comprise tubes '72within the lower ends of which rods 73 are telescopically slidable. Setscrews 74 are provided to releasably lock the end members 71, 71a inselected positions of longitudinal extension. The end members 71, 71aare pivotally connected to horizontal upper and lower bracing members76' and 76a, respectively, each of which is comprisedor a tube 77,'a'rod 78 telescopically slidable within the distal end of the tube, anda set screw 79 for releasably locking the members 76, 76a in selectedpositlO'I'l 'Of longitudinal extension.

In the case of the carriage 16, a single detachable angle brace 81 isadequate to impart ample rigidity to the construction.

The means for mounting the carriage 16 on the frame 11 for upward anddownward shifting thereon comprises a short length of tubing 86 slidablymounted on each of the vertical rods 24 of the frame legs 21, betweenthe top flange 27 thereof and the upper end of the associated leg tube23. A flange 87 (Figs. 3-6) projecting rigidly from each tube 86adjacent the upper end thereof provides support for a pivot pin 88 that'pivotally supports the upper end of one of the end members 71, 7111,the two pivot pins 88 being axially aligned and thereby supporting thecarriage 16 from the vertically adjustable tubes 86 for rotationaladjustment about a horizontal axis adjacent the upper, or proximal edgeof the rectangular carriage.

Each of the slide tubes 86 likewise carries a bracket 91 from which aprop 92 is pivotally suspended by a pivot pin 93'. Each prop 92 includesan upper, tubular portion 93 and an extension rod 94 telescopicallyslid'abl'e withinand extending from the lower end thereof and a setscrew '96 for releasably locking the rod 94 to the tube 93 in selectedposition of longitudinal extension of the prop. The parts are "soproportioned and arranged that both pivotally suspended props 92 arecontinually urged by gravityto swing in that direction which causes theminto pressing engagement with one side of the upper horizontal bracingmember 22 of the frame 11, provided, of. course, that the carriage 16 isnot at such an elevation withr'espect to the frame 11 that the lowerends of the props 92 are above the elevation of the bracing member=shaped clips 97 are 'aflixed to the upper side of the upper namebracing member '22, each in alignment with one of the props, for thelower end of which the clip serves as a guide and a'stop limiting thepivotal movement of the associated prop '92 immediately after the lowerend of the prop has passed over the 'top of the biacing member 22 whenmoving in the direction in which it IS gravitationally urged. The lowerend 98 of each prop rod 94 is cut on an oblique angle, the side first topass the bracing member during gravitational swingmg movement of theprop 92 being longer than the then trailing side of the prop (see Fig.8). The clips are so designed and arranged that they co-operate with thebracing member 22 to define sockets 99 to releasably retain the lowerends of the props 94 in endwise abutment with the bracing member afterthe relatively sharply angled portions 101 have passed the crown, orhighest portion of the member 22 when the props are moving in responseto gravity.

A pair of longitudinally aligned brackets or shelves 106 are welded orotherwise aifixed to the lower horizontal bracing member 76a of thecarriage 16, adjacent the ends thereof. These shelves 106 providesupport for a sheet 17 of wallboard while the carriage 16 is in itsloading position and while the carriage is raised and swung to itshorizontal, discharge position.

The carriage 16, with a sheet 17 of wallboard thereon, is adapted to beraised from its loading position (Figs. 3 and 4) to its intermediateposition (Fig. 5), by causing the guide tubes 86 to slide upward on theleg rods 24. A manually operable pole 107 (Fig. 2) is provided for thispurpose, and a short, tubular socket 108 pivotally suspended from theupper horizontal bracing member 76 facilitates such use of the pole 107.The socket 108 is carried by a short length of tubing 109 freelyrotatable upon the bracing member 76.

Another pole-receiving socket 111, is suspended from the lowerhorizontal bracing member 76a of the carriage 16, this socket 111 beingsuspended by oblique members 112 from two longitudinally spaced tubes113, both of which are freely rotatable upon the lower bracing member76a. Auxiliary sockets 114 may also be provided, each rigid with andextending radially from one of the tubes 113 in the plane of the members112 and socket 111.

An arm 116 extends from each end member 71 of the carriage 16, beingwelded to the rod 73 thereof adjacent the lower end of the latter. Thesearms 116 project perpendicularly with respect to the plane of thecarriage, and toward the frame 11in fact, bifurcate slides or guides 117on the distal ends of the arms slidably embrace the leg tubes 23 of theframe 11 to support the lower side of the carriage 16 so spaced from theframe that the carriage occupies a position sufficiently tilted toretain thereon a sheet 17 of wallboard disposed on edge on the shelves106 and tilted back against the outer face of the carriage.

Operation When the wallboard elevator 11 of the invention is to beplaced in service, the two set screws 68 of the horizontal bracingmembers 22 and 22a of the frame 11, as well as the two set screws 79 ofthe horizontal bracing members 76 and 76a of the carriage, should beloosened. This permits the entire machine 11 to be adjusted to suchlength that both flanges 27 at the upper ends of the legs 23 may bebrought into registry with ceiling rafters 14 of the overhead framing towhich panels 17 are to be afiixed. All four set screws 79 and 68 shouldthen be tightened, locking the four telescopic horizontal bracingmembers 22, 22a, 76 and 76a to maintain the then attained adjustment ofthe length of the machine 11.

Each of the two rod members 24 of the frame legs 21 should then beadjusted vertically (the set screws 26 first being loosened) to disposethe upper faces of the upper flanges 27 at an elevation slightly higherthan the under surfaces of the rafters 14, it being understood that thefoot flanges 41 are placed upon the floor directly under the rafterswith which the respective upper flanges 27 are to be engaged. Thedescribed adjustment of the rods 24 is made with the upper flangesalongside the rafters 14, permitting the rods to be run upward todispose the upper flanges 27 approximately a quarter of an inch abovethe elevation of the under faces of the rafters. The operator can theneffectively shorten the legs 21 by depressing on the pedals 52, causingthe plungers 36 to be retracted into their respectively associated tubes23. This permits the upper ends of the legs 21 to be swung under theselected rafters 14, whereupon the pedals 52 should be released,permitting the springs 38 to thrust the plungers outward of the tubes23. Since the lower flanges 41 rest upon the floor, such outwardthrusting of the plungers 36 is attained only by an upward thrust of thelegs, causing the upper flanges 27 to press upward against the rafterswith the full force of the springs, diminished only by the weight of theapparatus. It will be apparent, therefore, that in constmcting theapparatus, the springs 38 should be selected of such design that whenthe pedals 52 are released, the springs 38 will cause the upper flanges27 to bear upwardly against the rafters 14 with sufiicient force to holdthe upper ends of the legs 23 against lateral shifting and thereby toimmobilize the frame 11 securely in position extending substantiallyvertically between floor and rafters.

The unloaded carriage 16 should then be raised to slide the tubes 86upward on the rods 24 until they attain their highest possible positionsas determined by the then adjustment of the rods 24 and flanges 27.Holding the carriage 16 thus raised, the operator should then adjustboth props 92 to such length that their lower ends will just clear theupper bracing member 22 of the frame 11, to permit them to move bygravity into the sockets 99. With the props 92 locked in such adjustmentby the set screws 95, they should be retracted from the sockets 99 andthe carriage returned to its lower position as in Fig. 3.

The two set screws 74 should then be loosened and the rods 73 of thecarriage end members 71 and 71a adjusted with respect to theirrespectively associated tubes '72 to make the effective width of thecarriage, measured between the pivot pins 88 and a line including theinner faces of the shelf brackets 106, somewhat greater than the widthof the panel 17 to be installed. The apparatus is then in readiness toreceive a sheet 17 of wallboard to be installed.

The sheet 17 of wallboard to be installed should then be placed onto thecarriage. In so doing, the operator should rest one longitudinal edge ofthe sheet 17 on the two bracket shelves 106 and lean the sheet 17 backagainst the outer face of the end members 71 and 71a and the upperhorizontal bracing member 77 of the carriage. Fig. 4 shows the panel 17so positioned.

The entire carriage 16, and the panel 17 supported thereon may then beraised to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. This is readilyaccomplished by a single operator by means of the pole 107 (Fig. 2).Since the pole 107 consists of upper and lower rod and tubular sections121 and 122, respectively, and a setscrew 173 for releasably locking theparts 121 and 122 in selected position of longitudinal extension, thepole 107 can readily be adjusted to that length which will afford thegreatest convenience to the operator in raising the carriage 16 and thepanel 17 supported thereon, with the upper end of the pole seated in thesocket 108.

As the carriage attains its uppermost position, the lower ends of theprops 92 reach positions clear of the upper frame bracing member 22whereupon the props swing inward by gravity, the lower ends of the propsentering the sockets 99, so that when upward force upon the lifting pole122 ceases, the relatively pointed lower ends 101 of the props willsettle within the lowermost depressions of the sockets 99, and thusoperate as latching bars to firmly support the carriage at only a slightdistance below its uppermost position (Fig. 3).

maintain the legs in spaced, parallel arrangement, a rod in slidabletelescopic relation with each of said legs and extending from the upperend thereof, and means for releasably locking said rods in selectedposition of extension from said legs, a carriage including a guide tubeon each of said rods, an end member pivoted to each of said guide tubes,bracing means interconnecting said end members to retain them in spacedparallel relation, and means for supporting a sheet of wallboard on saidcarriage, said carriage being vertically adjustable between a lower,loading position and an elevated position by sliding said guide tubes onsaid rods, automatically engageable latch means for releasably retainingsaid rods adjacent the upper ends of said rods to support one edge ofsaid carriage in elevated position, and means for raising the oppositeedge of the carriage to dispose a sheet of wallboard thereonsubstantially horizontally.

3. Wallboard handling apparatus comprising a frame including a pair oftubular legs, bracing means rigid therewith and extending longitudinallytherebetween to maintain the legs in spaced, parallel arrangement, a rodin slidable telescopic relation with each of said legs and extendingfrom the upper end thereof, and means for releasably locking said rodsin selected position of extension from said legs, a carriage including aguide tube on each of said rods, an end member pivoted to each of saidguide tubes, bracing means interconnecting said end members to retainthem in spaced parallel relation, and means for supporting a sheet ofwallboard on said carriage, said carriage being vertically adjustablebetween a lower, loading position and an elevated position by slidingsaid guide tubes on said rods, a latching rod pivotally suspended fromeach of said guide tubes and yieldably urged to latching position, thelower ends of said rods being releasably engageable with said framesbracing means when said guide tubes attain positions of predeterminedadjustment on said rods to support one edge of said carriage in elevatedposition, and means for raising the opposite edge of the carriage todispose a sheet of wallboard thereon substantially horizontally.

4. Wallboard elevating apparatus comprising a carriage adapted to carrya sheet of wallboard, and a frame supporting the carriage for verticalmovement between a lower, loading position and an upper dischargingposition, said frame including a plurality of longitudinally extensiblelegs rigidly interconnected in spaced parallel arrangement, meansreleasably locking each of said legs in selected adjustment oflongitudinal extension, rafterengaging means carried by each of saidlegs, a floorengaging plunger reciprocably mounted on the lower end ofeach of the legs, and a spring under compression between each leg andthe associated plunger and adapted to push the leg upward to press theassociated rafterengaging means against a rafter and thereby immobilizeboth ends of the leg.

5. Wallboard elevating apparatus comprising a carriage adapted to carrya sheet of wallboard, and a frame supporting the carriage for verticalmovement between 10 a lower, loading position and an upper dischargingposition, said frame including a plurality of legs rigidlyinterconnected in spaced parallel arrangement, rafterengaging meanscarried by each of said legs, a floorengaging plunger reciprocablymounted on the lower end of each of the legs, and a spring undercompression between each leg and the associated plunger and adapted topush the leg upward to press the associated rafterengaging means againsta rafter and thereby immobilize both ends of the leg, and means forretracting each of said plungers toward the associated leg against theurgency of said spring to permit engagement and disengagement of saidrafter-engaging means.

6. Wallboard elevating apparatus comprising a carriage adapted to carrya sheet of wallboard, and a frame supporting the carriage for verticalmovement between a lower, loading position and an upper dischargingposition, said frame including a plurality of legs rigidlyinterconnected in spaced parallel arrangement, rafterengaging meanscarried by each of said legs, a floorengaging plunger reciprocablymounted on the lower end of each of the legs, and a spring undercompression between each leg and the associated plunger and adapted topush the leg upward to press the associated rafterengaging means againsta rafter and thereby immobilize both ends of the leg, a lever pivotedintermediate its ends to each of said legs, a link pivotally connectedat its upper end to one end of each of said levers and connected at itslower end to the associated plunger for retracting the plunger towardthe leg upon actuation of the lever to effect-disengagement of theassociated rafterengaging means.

7. In apparatus for elevating rigid sheet construction material and forpositioning the same in readiness for securing to ceiling rafters, aframe adapted for mounting in substantially vertical position extendingbetween floor and rafters, a carriage adapted to carry a sheet ofconstruction material and mounted on said frame for vertical movementbetween a lower, inclined, sheet material receiving position and anelevated, intermediate position, and for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis adjacent an edge of said carriage between an inclinedsheet material retaining position and a horizontal, sheetmaterialdischarging position and a winch mounted on said frame and operablyconnected to said carriage for raising the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,123,882 Jensen Jan. 5, 1915 1,820,950 Schulstadt Sept. 1, 19312,337,796 Baker et a1. Dec. 28, 1943 2,371,561 Van Patten Mar. 13, 19452,419,145 Kersenbrock et al Apr. 15, 1947 2,465,206 Davis Mar. 22, 19492,789,869 Hammagren Apr. 23, 1957

